Spiral binding



y 1938. w. GRUMBACHERV 2,123,149

SPIRAL BILINDING Filed Aug. 18, 1936 INVEN I OR,

' v Patented'Ju ly 5, 1938 UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE srmar. BINDING.WalterGrumbacher, New York, N. Y. Application August 18, 1936, SerialNo. 96,572

' .13 Claims. (oi. 281-25) While I have herein illustrated, and shallhereinafter describe, my invention as the same ap-,

plies to the bindingbf a stack of paper sheets, nevertheless it will beunderstoodthat my inlii vention is by no means restricted to this typeof sheet material but may have far wider applicability. 1

One phase of my invention relates to the binding together in a permanentmanner of a plu- 20 rality of sheets. By the term permanent I mean todistinguish this phase from the usual type of looseleafbinding, which isdesigned for the ready removal and insertion of sheets from or into astack of sheets, whereas in a permanent binding removal of a sheet maynot ordinarily be effected without mutilating the sheet or the bindingelement.

Another phase of my invention however relates to binding of thelooseleaf variety, permitting ready removal and insertion of sheets fromor into the assembly.

One object of my invention lies in providing an improved arrangementwherein the rotation of the binder, after it has been associated with athereby efficiently locking the binder, either permanently ortemporarily, in position.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an assemblycomprising, in association with a stack of sheets, a backing ofsubstantially rigid material which will impart a certain type ofrigidity to the assembled stack, the sheets of which are ordinarily offlexible material.

One of the problems arising with spiral binding elements is that of thecatching or binding of parts of the binding element in the walls of theperforations or other portions of the stack, thereby preventing freemanipulation of the sheets whenthe stack is to be opened. The ef- 50feet is particularly objectionable where the ends of the spiral elementare deformed or have extraneous members positioned thereon so as to'providetransverse abutments that cannot pass through the perforations ofthe stack, and will 55 therefore prevent removal of thebinding elementstack, is limited to a predetermined amount,

from the stackand thereby hold the sheets in assembled relation. Wheresuch deformations or extraneous members come into contact with portionsof the sheets of the stack, binding or mutilation of the sheets is veryapt to occur.

It is therefore also among the objects of my invention to provide aconstruction in which such deformations or extraneous members arelocated at points removed from the stack itself and in this connectionfurther to provide complementary abutments, that will cooperate withsaid deformations or extraneous members that limit the rotation of thebinding element, at points removed from the stack.

For the attainment of these objects and such other objects as willhereinafter appear or be pointed out, I have shown several embodimentsof my invention in the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a bound sheaf or stack of improvedcharacteristics, embodying the features of my invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the upper portion of a stack of modifiedconstruction;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a portion of a further modification; ,andFigure 5 is a sectional view through a portion of a stack provided withtwo backings or covers.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 in detail, I have illustrated therein astack 20 of substantially rectangular sheets, the stack being providedwith a series of equally spaced perforations 2| adjacent to andsubstantially parallel to the edge 22 of the stack. The sheets are shownas mounted upon a backing 23 which is relatively rigid, and may becomposed of cardboard or the like, the backing conforming preferably tosubstantially the size and shape of the sheets of the stack 20. Thisbacking is similarly provided with a series of equally spacedperforations adjacent to the edge 24, and the two rows of perforationscorrespond in spacing and arrangement so that they may be arranged insuperposed position.

In accordance with my present invention, the edge 22 of the stack 20 isrecessed or cut away, as indicated at 25, thus exposing the oppositeends of the edge 24 and exposing one or more perforations of the backing23.

A spiral binding element 26 is shown in association with the stack andthe backing, and it will be understood that this element may be composedof wire or similar rigid material. Its pitch corresponds to the spacingof the perforations in the stack and in the backing, so that itmay bethreaded into engagement with the stack and the backing by rotating it,turn by turn, through the perforations.

When this assembly has been completed, the ends of the binder 26 engageonly with the perforations of the backing 23, and, in Figures 1 and 2,these ends are shown as crimped or doubled back, as at 21, so as toengage with relative security with the backing 23. This prevents morethan a very slight limited rotation of the binder 26, and holds theparts in permanent assembly.

The reason for providing the cutouts 25 is to providea space for thecrimped ends of the binder 26, this crimping being accomplished inassociation with the backing only, as shown, and leaving the sheets ofthe stack free for turning them back to expose the sheets underneath. Infact, the freedom of movement of the sheets is highly efiicient, andalthough permanently bound together these sheets may be folded backwardsor forwards around the binder 26 in a manner which makes the deviceextremely useful.

In Figure 3, I have shown a looseleaf construction, illustrating how atie pin clasp type of device may be eificiently employed at both ends ofa spiral binding element 12, where a stack 13 is mounted in associationwith a backing 14. In this case, the opposite ends of the edge I5 of thestack are recessed as at 16, thereby exposing the opposite ends of theperforated edge of the backing H. The binder 12 engages with the parts,as before, and the ends, instead of being crimped as in Figure 1, areadapted removably to receive the devices ll. These devices, as hasalready been stated, are of the tie pin clasp type, and may be readilyapplied and withdrawn from the ends of the binder to permit the binderto be locked in position or removed if desired. They consist essentiallyof a substantially cylindrical body with a longitudinal boretherethrough and with spring means and clamps on the interior of thebore for locking the body onto the end of the wire 12. Each device 11is, of course, removable by an adjustment which releases the jaws andthereby permits it to be withdrawn endwise from .the binder 12. Thedevices 11 serve, in efiect, as a means for destroying the smoothcontinuity of the spiral at both ends of. the binder and they areefliciently arranged within the recesses 14, so that they do notinterfere with the freedom of movement or adjustment of the sheets ofthe stack.

Instead of using removable stops on both ends of a spiral bindingelement, such as the tie pin clasps 'I'I of Figure 3, it is obvious thatfor certain purposes it will be found convenient to use a removable stopon one end of the spiral element only, while the otherend may bedeformed in any such suitable or preferred manner, as shown in Figure 1,for example.

By the use of two removable stop devices, one

at each end, removal of sheets from or inser-.

tion of sheets into the stack is made easier than if one end is providedwith a permanent stop. Referring to Figure 3, for instance, if it isdesired to remove the top sheets of the stack, this may be mostconveniently done by removing the stop II at the left of Figure 3 andunscrewing the spiral element 12 toward the right of the figure. The topsheets may then be removed while the left terminal portion of the spiralele ment is still in the extreme right hand perforation of the stack andstill holding the sheets to some degree in registration. Sheets, at theback of the stack however, cannot be removed until the spiral iscompletely disengaged from the stack.

If on the other hand it is desired to remove sheets from back of thestack of Figure 3, it will be found convenient to remove the right handstop H and unscrew the spiral to the left.

If one of the stops is permanently in place on the spiral it will benecessary in all cases to disengage the spiral completely from thestack.

In Figure 4, I have shown an arrangement similar to Figure 3, in whichonly a single clamping device 18, similar to the device 11 is necessary.The stack 19 is recessed as at 80; and the binder 8| engages with thestack perforations 82 and the backing perforations 83. During thethreading of the binder into association with the elements, the device18 is applied so that when the binder is finally in position the device18 is not at the extreme end of the binder but near the end, and on thereverse side of the backing 83. The rotation of the binder is finallylimited by the encounter of the device 18 with the rear of theperforations B4 and the front of the perforations 85. However it will beunderstood that while the device 18 has been shown on the reverse sideof the backing, that it might be positioned on the obverse side and inone of the recesses, the right hand recess 80, for instance, with thesame effect.

While I have illustrated the stack as having portions thereof cut awayso as to expose the backing, it will be obvious that the same result,namely that of engagment of the stop portions on the spiral element withportions of the backing instead of the stack, will be attained byleaving the stack of rectangular form and providing portions on thebacking extending beyond the stack.

In Figure 5 I have shown a construction in which a cover or backing isadded to a backing such as shown in the remaining figures of thedrawing. In this figure 90 indicates the stack, 93 the backing, and 92the aforementioned added cover or backing. The spiral element 94 passingthrough perforations 98 in the cover 92, the perforations 96 in stack90, and perforations 99 of backing 93, binds the assembly together.

The cover 92 may be contoured like the backing 93, or like the stack,and it willbe obvious that it may be used in connection with any of theheretofore described constructions.

In general, it will be understood that'the ramifications of my inventionare considerable in number, and that the illustrations and descriptionsherein contained are obviously given in large measure merely for thepurpose of illustration. It will be understood that changes in thedetails herein described and illustrated, for the purpose of explainingthe nature of my invention, may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims. It is, therefore, intended that thesedetails be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:--

l. A binding construction for a stack of sheets having a row ofuniformly spaced perforations along one edge thereof, a relatively rigidbacking adapted to overlie said stack, said backing having a row ofuniformly spaced perforations adjacent one edge thereof, said respectiveperforations in the stackand the backing being adapted to register andto receive therewithin, in threaded relation, a spiral binding element,and said perforations in the backing extending beyond the perforationsin the stack, a spiral binding element extending through theperforations of the stack and the backing so as to hold them together inbound relation, and at least one end of said element extending throughan end perforation of said row of perforations in the backing, and meanson said binding element positioned beyond the confines of the stack butwithin the confines of the backing for preventing disassociation of saidbinding element from the stack.

2. A binding construction for a stack of sheets having a row ofuniformly spaced perforations along one edge thereof, a relatively rigidbacking adapted to overlie said stack, said backing having a row ofuniformly spaced perforations adjacent one edge thereof, said respectiveperforations in the stack and the backing being adapted to register andto receive therewithin, in threaded relation, a spiral binding element,and said perforations in the backing extending beyond the perforationsin the stack, a spiral binding element extending through theperforations of the stack and the backing so as to hold them together inbound relation, and the ends of said element extending through the endperforations of said row of perforations in the backing, and means onthe respective ends of said binding element and positioned beyond theconfines of the stack to prevent disassociation of said elementfrom saidstack.

3. A binding construction for a stack of sheets having a row ofuniformly spaced perforations along one edge thereof, a relatively rigidbacking adapted to overlie said stack, said backing having a row ofuniformly spaced perforations adjacent one edge thereof, said respectiveperforations in the stack and the backing being adapted to register andto receive therewithin, in threaded relation, a spiral binding element,and said perforations in the backing extending beyond the perforationsin the stack, a spiral binding element extending through theperforations of the stack and the backing so as to hold them together inbound relation, and at least one end of said element extending throughan end perforation of said row of perforations in the backing, andportions of said last-named end of said element positioned beyond saidstack being deformed from their normal contour so as to prevent theirpassage through said perforations.

4. A binding construction for a stack of sheets having a row ofuniformly spaced perforations along one edge thereof, a relatively rigidbacking adapted to overlie said stack, said backing hav-- ing a row ofuniformly spaced perforations adjacent one edge thereof, said respectiveperforations in the stack and the backing being adapted to register andto receive therewithin, in threaded relation, a spiral binding element,and said perforations in the backing extending beyond the perforationsin the stack, a spiral binding element extending through theperforations of the stack and the backing so as to hold them together inbound relation, and at least one end of said element extending throughan end perforation of said row of perforations in the backing, and ameans of such dimensions that it cannot pass through said perforationsremovably positioned on the said last-named end of said element, beyondthe confines of the stack.

5. In combination with a stack of sheets, a backing therefor, a row ofuniformly spaced perforations adjacent one edge of said combined stackand backing, the corners of the stack being cut away so as to expose theend perforations of the backing, a spiral binding element threadedthrough said perforations, the said binding element being of sufficientlength so as to pass through at least one of said exposed perforationsof the backing, but not to extend beyond the ends of said perforatededge of the backing, and means on the binding element positioned beyondthe confines-of the stack for preventing disassociation of the bindingelement from thestack.

6. In combination with a stack of sheets, a backing therefor, a row ofuniformly spaced perforations adjacent one edge of said combined stackand backing, the corners of the stack being cut away so as to expose theend perforations of the backing, a spiral binding element threadedthrough said perforations, the said binding element being of sufiicientlength so as to pass through at least one of said exposed perforationsof the backing, but not to extend beyond the ends of said perforatededge of the backing, and portions of the binding element positionedbeyond the confines of the stack being deformed from their normalcontour into such a configuration as to prevent disassociation of thebinding element from the stack.

7. In combination with a stack of sheets, a backing therefor, a row ofuniformly spaced perforations adjacent one edge of said combined stackand backing, the corners of the stack being cut away so as to expose theend perforations of the backing, a spiral binding element threadedthrough said perforations, the said binding element being of sufficientlength so as to pass through at least one of said exposed perforationsof the backing, but not to extend beyond the ends of said perforatededge of the backing, and means removably positioned on portions of saidbinding element beyond the confines of the stack, and adapted to preventdisassociation of the binding element from the stack.

8. In combination with a stack of sheets, a backing positioned on eachside of said stack, a row of uniformly spaced perforations adjacent oneedge of said combined stack and backings, the corners of the stack beingcut away so as to expose the end perforations at at least one side ofthe backing, a spiral binding element threaded through saidperforations, the said binding element being of sufficient length so asto pass through at least one of said exposed perforations of thebacking, but not to extend beyond the ends of said perforated edge ofthe backing, and means positioned within the confines of the backing butwithout the confines of the stack, for preventing disassociation of saidelement from the stack and the backing.

9. A binding construction for a stack of sheets having a row ofuniformly spaced perforations along one edge thereof, a relatively rigidbacking adapted to overlie said stack, said backing having a row ofuniformly spaced perforations adjacent one edge thereof, said respectiveperforations in the stack and backing being adapted to register and toreceive therein in threaded relabinding element positioned beyond theconfines of the stack but within the confines of the backing forpreventing disassociation of said binding element from the stack.

10. In combination with a stack of sheets, a backing therefor, a row ofuniformly spaced perforations adjacent one edge of said combined stackand backing, said backing having perforated areas thereof extendingbeyond the stack PO as to expose the same, a spiral binding elementthreaded through said perforations, the said binding element being ofsufficient length so as to pass through at least one of said exposedperforations of the backing, but not to extend beyond the ends of saidperforated edge of the backing, and means on the binding elementpositioned beyond the confines of the stack for preventingdisassociation of the binding element from the stack.

11. In combination with a stack of sheets, a backing therefor, a row ofuniformly spaced perforations adjacent one edge of said combined stackand backing, said backing having perforated areas thereof extendingbeyond the stack so as to expose the same, a spiral binding elementthreaded through said perforations, the said binding element being ofsufiicient length so as to pass through at least one of said exposedperforations of the backing, but not to extend beyond the ends of saidperforated edge of the backing,

and portions of the binding element positioned beyond the confines ofthe stack being deformed from their normal contour into such aconfiguration as to prevent disassociation of the binding element fromthe stack.

12.. In combination with a stack of sheets, a backing therefor. a row ofuniformly spaced perforations adjacent one edge of said combined stackand backing, said backing having periorated areas thereof extendingbeyond the stack so as to expose the same, a spiral binding elementthreaded through said perforations, the said binding element being ofsufiicient length so as to pass through at least one of said exposedperforations oi. the backing, but not to extend beyond the ends of saidperforated edge of the backing, and means removabiy positioned onportions of said binding element beyond the confines of the stack, andadapted to prevent disassociation of the binding element from the stack.

13. In combination with a stack of sheets, a backing positioned on eachside of said stack, a row of uniformly spaced perforations adjacent oneedge of said combined stack and backings, said backing having,perforated areas thereof extending beyond the stack so as to expose thesame, a spiral binding element threaded through said perforations, thesaid binding element being of sufficient length so as to pass through atleast one of said exposed perforations of the backing, but not to extendbeyond the ends of said perforated edge of the backing, and meanspositioned within the confines of the backing but without the confinesof the stack, for reventing disassociation of said element from thestack and the backing.

WALTER. GRUMBACHER.

